Vehicles ferrying PWDs allowed to use reserved slots

The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance amending Section 4 of Ordinance No. 28, series of 2018 which earlier amended Ordinance No. 108, series of 2008 that regulated the use of parking spaces and blue lanes for the use of persons with disabilities (PWDs).            

Under the said proposal, Section 4.6 of Ordinance No. 28, 2018 will now read ‘Vehicles ferrying a differently-abled or other-abled person may park at the designated parking slot for differently-abled or other abled persons, provided, that the purpose of the visit to the establishment, institution or office is for the welfare of the differently-abled or other-abled person, provided further, that said differently-abled or other abled person cannot buy himself or herself drive the vehicle for reason of physical incapability.’               

Earlier, the local legislative body passed Ordinance No. 108, series of 2008 which regulated the use of parking spaces and blue lanes for the use of PWDs.               

The city declared as a policy that only persons with disabilities shall be allowed to use parking slots and pedestrian lanes, especially reserved for them.             

It shall be the duty of the police or traffic enforcer, security guards and personnel manning the parking area to see to it that only PWDs shall use the designated parking area slots.             

Based on the aforesaid ordinance, persons other than PWDs who shall utilize the blue lanes and parking spaces for PWDs shall be penalized with a fine of P200 for the first offense, a fine of P500 for the second offense and a fine of P1,000 for the third and succeeding offenses.               

Ordinance 28, series of 2008 defined differently-abled or other-abled persons as persons suffering from restrictions of different abilities, as a result of a physical, mental, physical or sensory impairment, in performing an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.               

On the other hand, disability shall mean either a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more psychological, physiological or anatomical function of an individual or activities of such individuals; or a record of such impairment, or being regarded as having such impairment. – Dexter A. See